Valued for its evergreen, often silvery foliage, lavender cotton is also cherished for its delicate fragrance. This small Mediterranean shrub is both drought and cold-resistant, and undemanding when it comes to soil, thriving in poor, even stony or chalky, but well-drained ground. Ideal for dry gardens, lavender cotton (Santolina) is adorned with small cream or yellow pompon-like flowers that are easy to dry.
An easy-care shrub, lavender cotton has only one requirement: pruning. Or rather, prunings, as it's best to trim it regularly throughout the year to maintain its rounded, compact shape. Follow all our advice to understand why, when, and how to prune or cut back lavender cotton.
Essential tools for caring for lavender cotton
- Hedge shears: useful for trimming the foliage and shaping the plant to maintain a compact form. They also allow for cutting back the plant;
- Secateurs for removing spent flowers.
Why prune lavender cotton?
Lavender cotton (Santolina), a member of the Asteraceae family, is stunning in low borders, rockeries, or flower beds, thanks to its dense, compact habit. However, whether it's the well-known Santolina chamaecyparissus or other varieties like Santolina virens, this shrub has a tendency to develop woody stems and spread unevenly, much like its companion, lavender. Without pruning, it quickly becomes leggy and untidy.
Without pruning, lavender cotton loses its dense form and develops unsightly woody stems
This is why pruning helps reshape its silhouette into a lovely, dense, rounded cushion. The foliage will be finer, more aromatic, and the base won't become bare. Pruning prevents woody growth and hollowing of the clump. Additionally, it maintains the plant and stimulates its nectar-rich flowering and growth.
If you want your lavender cotton to form a neat, rounded bush, pruning is essential. An annual prune is necessary, though two are recommended. This is the only care it asks for!
When and how to prune lavender cotton?
Unlike many other plants, lavender cotton isn't fazed by hard pruning, whether at the start of or during the growing season. You can safely prune several times a year—it will only enhance its beauty.
Prune at different times:
- In early spring, around March, as new leaves emerge, give it a rejuvenating trim with shears, cutting young shoots back by two-thirds. For border plants, a square shape works well. Isolated plants prefer a rounded trim to form a cushion. In colder regions, this rounded shape also prevents snow from lingering and damaging the foliage. This prune also balances the plant.
- In May, trim again with shears to even out the clump. This may reduce flowering but ensures a neat, uniform shape.
- In September, after flowering, deadhead with secateurs and level the stems. Remove any dry or weak growth. Don’t discard the spent stems—dry them upside down for dried arrangements. The camphor-scented foliage can be used in sachets to repel moths.
In September, prune spent flowers from lavender cotton
In autumn and winter, leave lavender cotton untouched. Pruning then could make it more vulnerable to frost.
When to cut back hard?
After 3–4 years, or if neglected, lavender cotton may need hard pruning. Over time, it becomes misshapen and unruly. This severe cut is done in late winter, around March.
Cut old stems and branches as low as possible without damaging the crown. Don’t worry—it will regrow vigorously with fresh stems filling the base.
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